Trojans hammer Shaw
By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 7, 2012 1:49 PM
MOC Sports Information
MOUNT OLIVE -- Jermaine Berry and Jacob Rogers collected four hits apiece and No. 28-ranked Mount Olive College used a 10-run, second-inning outburst to turn back in-state rival Shaw University, 16-1, at Scarborough Field on a cool, crisp Tuesday afternoon.
Down 1-0, the Trojans (10-5 overall) got started in the second inning on Berry's lead-off single. Antonio Callaway legged out a bunt single down the third-base line one out later, and advanced into scoring position on Cameron Sherrer's RBI single.
Callaway scored on Matt Patrone's RBI drag bunt down the first-base line, which gave MOC a 2-1 advantage. Mike Mercurio smacked a two-RBI single and Braden Reitano followed with a bases-clearing triple to right field.
Rogers drove a two-strike pitch over the right-field fence, which extended the lead to 7-1. It was Rogers' fourth home run of the season.
Berry singled for the second time in the inning and Daniel Coffey followed with a two-out walk. Berry came home on Callaway's second single of the inning and Sherrer's second RBI single brought home Coffey.
Callaway capped the inning by scoring on a double steal.
Seven Trojan pitchers combined on a four-hitter. Starter Talton Cherry went the first three innings. Barinder Rakkar pitched a perfect fourth inning and Josh Frederick (1-1) was awarded the win after pitching a hitless fifth.
After Derek Justice retired the side in order in the sixth, Ryan Poplin got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh with a strikeout and a double-play ball. Chris Hinton got a pair of come-backers in a perfect eighth inning and Justin Weaver worked around a two-out walk in the ninth.
MOC entertains California (Pa.) University on Thursday. First pitch is 3 p.m.